City Centre committee approves hotel, 60 affordable units for old neighbourhoods

Fort Rouge

City Centre

Waverley Heights

The City Centre community committee met for a special meeting on July 3. There, the committee discussed a few projects planned for the area.

A hearing was held for a zoning agreement amendment at 269 River Ave., to make way for a “unique property” backing onto the Assiniboine River.

If approved by council, the 1.33-acre site would be home to a seven-storey, 125,000 square-foot apartment building sporting 147 units. Sixty of the dwelling units — 41 per cent — would be affordable.

The zoning agreement amendment, which was approved by the committee, discharged the existing zoning agreement which came into play when the site was rezoned to “Residential Multi-Family — Large” in 1979, which restricted the site to only 110 dwelling units. The amendment now allows for the bigger number.

Amenities at the new apartment building would include a two-storey lobby with seating, a gym on the main floor, indoor bicycle parking spaces, and outdoor gathering spaces for tenants and guests for barbecues and campfires. A majority of the dwelling units will have either a balcony or Juliet balcony, as well, according to the applicant. The building would also be accessible and pet-friendly.

The site would include 79 parking spaces overall, with 23 of which being enclosed and heated, 11 covered, and 45 uncovered.

Thirteen new trees, 123 new shrubs, and native grass would be planted on-site.

“It’s a nice project,” said Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre), in support. “It fits in well with the neighbourhood.”

A second hearing was held regarding a subdivision and rezoning at 69, 71, and 73 Maryland St., as well as the land between 73 Maryland St. and 701 Westminster Ave.

If the project is approved, three vacant houses, located on-site, will be demolished and replaced with a six-storey building with 15 hotel suites on the main floor and 45 dwelling units on the upper floors. The development would also include 16 parking spaces, a car-share vehicle on-site, a 22-stall indoor bike room, and front patio space.

“We’re very excited about increasing the density and developing one empty lot, and improving the remainder … it’s had zero vacancy for several years and the need for more units is very apparent,” said Andrew Wilkinson, representing the applicant, Integra Building Systems.

“We’re trying to deliver that short-stay, cheaper alternative to the hotels around the airport and down Main Street,” he said, of the hotel aspect.

Gilroy expressed concern over retaining the walkable nature of the surrounding neighbourhood and the loss of sidewalk space on-site, and Wilkinson was confident that the sidewalks would be kept clean from shrub debris — as landscaping is a major focus of the property. No one was registered in opposition and the subdivision and rezoning moved ahead.

“The design and look of the building looks and feels like the neighbourhood, and it’s a good project,” Gilroy said.

The committee also approved plans for a one-storey commercial building at 300 Newmarket Blvd. near Waverley Heights; a gas station at 1280 Notre Dame Ave.; a four-storey, mixed-use building with three commercial units on the ground floor and 21 residential units on the upper floors; and an extension of time for a subdivision and rezoning for a single-family building at 740 Holly Ave.

Finally, a traffic study was recommended for the intersection of York Avenue and Israel Asper Way, due to expressed concerns regarding near misses and close calls when vehicles turn left from York.